Theatre, Textiles, and Fearlessness: Tara Babylon on Fashion Without Borders

British-Iraqi designer Tara Babylon has carved out a rare space where performance art, hand-crafted textiles, and fashion meet in explosive color. Based in New York, and an alumna of Central Saint Martins and Parsons, she refuses to separate craft from theatre, or fun from sophistication. Gender-fluid, artisanal, and exuberantly bold, her work is a reminder that fashion is not just about clothes — it is about how we experience identity, joy, and presence.

Author: Your work sits at the intersection of art, craft, and fashion. When you begin a collection, do you think like a designer, a performance artist, or a storyteller first?

Tara Babylon: I begin each collection by tuning into my mood — what I’m feeling and how I want to express that creatively. From there, I gather research: fabrics, dancers, costumes, vintage clothing, music. Everything merges through experimentation on and off my own body until it becomes a single vision.

Author: Gender-fluidity is central to your label. What possibilities open up when clothing is freed from categories — and what challenges remain?

Tara Babylon: The possibilities lie in freedom — anyone can wear the pieces, which makes them playful and inclusive. The challenge is logistics: most stores don’t have a “unisex” floor. Buyers still think in men’s or women’s categories, which makes pitching gender-fluid collections harder.

Author: You champion artisanal techniques at a time when speed dominates. What does the human hand bring that machines never can?

Tara Babylon: The human hand infuses textiles with tangibility, character, and care. It creates subtle imperfections that add depth and texture. Machines can’t replicate that emotion. You literally feel the difference when something has been touched and shaped by a human hand.

Author: Your runway shows often feel like theatre. What role does performance play in your process?

Tara Babylon: For me, a fashion show is theatre — and theatre is a fashion show. I love to blur those lines, because that’s where things become truly interesting. Creating an entire world is central to my process: accessories, fabrics, shoes, music, models — it all has to merge. I’m wired as a showman; extravagance and the challenge of elevating every detail drive me to make each presentation unforgettable.

Author: You’ve studied at Central Saint Martins and Parsons. What lasting lessons did each give you?

Tara Babylon: CSM taught me resourcefulness: if you think you can’t make something because of budget, then you’re not being creative enough. Parsons taught me to embrace the unknown. Being alone in a new country stripped me back, but it forced me to trust the process and rebuild from scratch. That’s when my textiles and brand truly came to life.

Author: Sustainability can feel restrictive. How do you keep it playful and full of energy?

Tara Babylon: Some sustainable fabrics limit color, and as a color lover I won’t compromise on palette. Instead, I embed sustainability elsewhere: through linings, threads, fair labor, and conscious decision-making. It’s about balance — responsibility without losing joy.

Author: Your work blurs showpiece and ready-to-wear. How do you decide what becomes everyday clothing?

Tara Babylon: First comes the fantasy, then comes the process of simplifying it. That’s the hard part. Some ideas take years to refine from performance textile to ready-to-wear piece. I’m still revisiting techniques I began experimenting with five years ago.

Author: You describe your work as fun yet sophisticated. What does “fun” mean in the context of luxury?

Tara Babylon: Fun is about playfulness, the freedom to be lighthearted. I can’t stand overly serious fashion. Creativity should have joy at its center. Even when a garment carries deep meaning, the experience of it can still be playful.

Author: How does your multicultural background shape your perspective on beauty and identity?

Tara Babylon: Each cultural layer has shaped me. British structure, Iraqi heritage, New York energy — they all add dimension to my identity. Tara Babylon is about celebrating individuality and confidence. When someone wears a piece, I want them to feel fabulous, free, and entirely themselves in the most elevated way possible.

Author: Looking to the future, what do you hope the phrase “a Tara Babylon piece” will mean?

Tara Babylon: That it stands for empowerment, joy, and individuality. Each garment is meant to make the wearer feel like they are stepping into something unforgettable.

Interview by Oona Chanel